as the loops wear on, Xephre loses touch with the stars, leaving their astrometer behind. but if anything can outlive them, it's the endless eternity of space, and the sky will always be waiting for them when they're ready to return.
#XephreDrakis #XephBS
growing up, xephre learned to navigate by the stars. then they learned of the constellations and the Twelve. they learned to wield celestial magicks. they learned that every star might be a world just like theirs, waiting to be explored. the stars are hope and power, inspiration and guide.
#XephBS
—connect with people and help them and enjoy life, but their true flaw is an inability to accept that they can experience happiness despite all the shit they have to go through. they punish themself for the things they can't help and only allow themself to enjoy "bad" things.
#XephreDrakis #XephBS
Chronos, because of xeph's time loops, and because time shenanigans are a favourite of mine. they don't have any particularly unique time powers, I just like the name/theme
#XephreDrakis #XephBS
sewing kit for sure. the cookies are probably homemade and/or in a nice little jar on the counter
#XephBS
they figured from the start that people might want to read their journals at some point, even if they try to prevent it, so they keep their most personal thoughts and feelings in a set of private tomes, which they've considered burning.
#XephreDrakis #XephBS
xeph has dozens of journals detailing every deviation and the "canon" events of their time loops. it's the only way they could keep everything straight. it was in no way written for audience consumption, but at the end they do publish one final record of the Correct Timeline.
#XephreDrakis #XephBS
how it started --> how it's going
#XephreDrakis #XephBS
there is only one specific circumstance in which xeph will allow someone to call them bunny or rabbit. otherwise they will escalate to violence if you don't stop.
#XephreDrakis #XephBS
TL;DR in an ideal world i would answer this question properly and do a lore+ingame name change, but at this point it would feel SO weird. and i'd have to change it in everything i've ever written, and all my comics, and old bsky posts would be incorrect, and UGH
#XephreDrakis #XephBS
xeph is the bagel in Everything Everywhere All At Once, minus the funfetti
#XephreDrakis #XephBS
yes and yes. would they go though? probably not
#XephreDrakis #XephBS
xeph did collegiate wrestling despite not actually going to college. they just wanted to fight. later on they get into underground MMA.
#XephreDrakis #XephBS
they came up with this system when they received the echo while working for a town guard in the shroud and started seeing incoming attacks in much the same way. it's become a widely used training method across eorzea.
#XephreDrakis #XephBS
xeph actually helped develop a training system that looks a lot like how we play xiv - they use their aether to telegraph orange danger zones on the training field, which flash red when "damage" goes out. it gets measured as "HP" by an aetheric gauge on the training armour.
#XephreDrakis #XephBS
before they were more emotionally secure, xeph would lean into sexual advances and contact to mask their desire for connection. but even once they're better, physical contact is deeply comforting to them, so they'll probably steal a hug or kiss, or do a gentle headbutt/nudge.
#XephreDrakis #XephBS
i like to think that when xeph finally dies Properly, it's of old age, somewhere in the middle of nowhere in their favourite place in the universe. their skeleton would be found lying next to a tree, along with a weatherproof box within which there would be one final journal.
#XephreDrakis #XephBS
the long term consequences are the traumatic memories we made along the way~
xeph's time loops return them to the body they were in at the start, so they heal any wounds, scars, missing limbs, etc. that happened after that. but they also lose all training and muscle memory.
#XephreDrakis #XephBS
"Let's get this done."
#XephreDrakis #XephBS
in the wise words of Titania: bigger is better 😈
in xeph's own words: "I have a soft spot for people who could crush me."
they're obviously not a slouch in combat and can get pretty competitive, but anyone who can beat them in a fight automatically gets points.
#XephreDrakis #XephBS
their instinct to avoid death is a little stunted after all the loops, but if they think about it too hard they can get paralyzed with fear. part of them just wants to rest forever. another doesn't want to let go of their final chance to really live.
#XephreDrakis #XephBS
yesn't? xeph has died so many times and seen so many people die over & over that it doesn't really matter anymore. they're used to the pain & the resetting. but it still sucks, esp if they were on a really good run.
once their curse is (maybe) lifted, it's a different story…
#XephreDrakis #XephBS
knows it, uses it, respects it. theirs is "time out." clear in meaning but not likely to be used as part of the play in CNC type situations.
#XephreDrakis #XephBS #XephAfterDark
got vanaspati in roulette today with friends, and one mentioned how sad it is that this dungeon that used to be so emotional in msq now just feels like it's slowing you down, and i'm like [sicko meme] yessss that's exactly xeph's experience, that's their whole existence
#XephreDrakis #XephBS
i think for xeph there's a difference between feeling lonely and feeling alone. they're generally happy to be without company for extended periods, but they miss their loved ones often and fiercely. i guess it's a question of whether they made the choice to be alone.
#XephreDrakis #XephBS
if it's just for casual stuff, xeph will be pretty receptive. but show the slightest hint of romantic affection and they'll clam up... not because they're aromantic, but rather the opposite. they're afraid of making and losing, important connections.
#XephreDrakis #XephBS
from Khutu: "Just seeing you makes me feel like I'm on top of the world. Being able to love you fully is gonna launch me into outer space, and I’m taking you with me, so you'd better be ready."
from Xeph: "I came up with a nickname for you. You're my sunshine."
#XephreDrakis #XephBS #Xeph138
I write about it a lot but it's not doable in gpose: xeph wags their tail when they're happy, specifically around people they love. they deny it when asked about it. they think it's embarrassing and it's usually subconscious. but if you know the tell it can be very validating.
#XephreDrakis #XephBS
-laughs in "theyve done this 1011 times"-
(it's actually 2 years, and they cannot stop the calamity, it's Fated)
#XephreDrakis #XephBS
